Lions are rebuilding... again - Super Rugby 2019 Preview
The loss of almost 50 caps worth of Test experience may not sound that dramatic, but becomes more pronounced when you look at the Super Rugby experience that departed (339 appearances).
That is when you realise the true impact the losses suffered by the Lions may have.
When the likes of Ruan Ackermann (to Gloucester), Francois de Klerk (Sale), Armand van der Merwe (Sharks) and Julian Redelinghuys (retired) were absent for the 2018 season, there were already concerns. Now add the names of Ruan Dreyer (Gloucester), Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Sale Sharks), Jaco Kriel (Gloucester), Franco Mostert (Gloucester) and Jacques van Rooyen (Bath).
Coach Zacharia de Bruin downplayed the loss of this batch of Springboks.
However, even he will admit replacing that experience will take some time.
A glance at the Lions’ provisional squad will suggest they still have enough to be competitive.
And they do have it in them to reach the playoffs again.
However, in the crunch games – especially against New Zealand opposition – they will be vulnerable. Last year they were zero from five against Kiwi teams – losing twice to the Crusaders.
Nowhere was that vulnerability more conspicuous than the 35-38 loss to the Blues in Johannesburg in Round Four. Defeats to the Jaguares (35-49, in Buenos Aires), the Reds (22-27, Brisbane) and the Sharks (24-31, Durban) also illuminated their frailties.
The advantage they have is that the head coach, De Bruin, is now in his second season in charge. He has also spent some valuable time with the Springboks.
Other members of the backroom staff that will be wiser are defence coach Joey Mongalo and forwards coach Philip Lemmer – two aspects of the Lions’ game that required plenty of improvement.
How they cope with the loss of firebrand Franco Mostert will be key.
One-time Springbok Stephan Lewies is a great acquisition, but does not bring the same physical attributes and mobility that Mostert did.
2018 Predictions
South African Conference Placing: Third
Player of the Year: Malcolm Marx
Rookie of the Year: Wandisile Simelane
Super Rugby Placing: Somewhere between ninth and 12th
Squad Movements
In: Stephan Lewies (from the Sharks), Danie Mienie (Toulouse), Carlu Sadie (Stormers, loan), Frans van Wyk (Bulls), Jan-Henning Campher (Bulls).
Out: Ruan Dreyer (Gloucester), Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Sale Sharks), Marco Jansen van Vuuren (Sevens), Jaco Kriel (Gloucester), Franco Mostert (Gloucester), Jacques van Rooyen (Bath)
Squad (provisional): Andries Coetzee, Sylvian Mahuza, Gianni Lombard, Morné van den Berg, Ruan Combrinck, Courtnall Skosan, Madosha Tambwe, Aphiwe Dyantyi, Tyrone Green, Lionel Mapoe, Harold Vorster, Jan-Louis La Grange, Louritz van der Schyff, Manuel Rass, Wandisile Simelane, Elton Jantjies, Shaun Reynolds, Eddie Fouche, Ross Cronje, Dillon Smit, Nic Groom, Wayne van der Bank, Bradley Thain, Warren Whiteley, Albertus Smith, Robert Kruger, Cyle Brink, Hacjivah Dayimani, Len Massyn, Marnus Schoeman, James Venter, Jo-Hanco de Villiers, Peter-John Steenkamp, Vincent Tshituka, Andries Ferreira, Marvin Orie, Reinhard Nothnagel, Rhyno Herbst, Ruan Vermaak, Stephan Lewies, Jacobie Adriaanse, Dylan Smith, Johannes Jonker, Sithembiso Sithole, Nathan McBeth, Carlu Sadie, Chergin Fillies, Danie Mienie, Frans van Wyk, Robbie Coetzee, Malcolm Marx, Jan-Henning Campher, Pieter Jansen.
History
Best finish: Champions in 1993 (Some purists dismiss their Super 10 title as being in the amateur era. They were runners up in 2016, 2017 and 2018)
Worst finish: Fifteenth in 2012
By Jan de Koning @rugby365
Rugby World Cup City Guides – Oita:
Comments on RugbyPass
No Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
5 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
5 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
18 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
18 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to comments